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Abstract:
Skeletal muscle is a biological actuator. Understanding how muscle functions has
applications in the fields of robotics and prosthetics. In my work, I characterized the
viscoelastic properties of the silver lamprey (Ichthyomyzon unicuspis) body such as
stiffness and damping, as a function of the timing of muscle activity. I subjected the
lamprey to sinusoidal bending, of different ... read moreamplitudes, while electrically stimulating
muscles at different phases of the tailbeat cycle. Given the intrinsic properties of
skeletal muscle, such as the force-length and force-velocity relationships, I expect
that the stimulation phase will have a significant impact on whole-body response. The
lamprey was modelled as an elliptical beam and examined for deviations from the passive
state, indicative of the muscle's response to stimulation. I measured forces and torques
using a six-axis transducer which I transformed into body torque. Results indicate that
stimulation phase has a significant effect on muscle properties during sinusoidal
bending.
Thesis (M.S.)--Tufts University,
2018.
Submitted to the Dept. of Mechanical
Engineering.
Advisors: Eric Tytell, and Jason
Rife.
Committee: Igor
Sokolov.
Keywords: Mechanical engineering,
Biomechanics, and
Biology.read less
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